Three flu deaths reported in Maine and N.H.

DOVER — State officials in New Hampshire and Maine are urging people to get vaccinated against influenza, with New Hampshire reporting two recent deaths linked to flu outbreaks and Maine reporting a young child has died as well.

DOVER — State officials in New Hampshire and Maine are urging people to get vaccinated against influenza, with New Hampshire reporting two recent deaths linked to flu outbreaks and Maine reporting a young child has died as well.

New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, of the Division of Public Health Services, stressed those who are already sick should cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and stay home from work or school if suffering from flu-like symptoms.

“We're definitely seeing more cases,” Alroy-Preis said. “Currently, we're at a status of what we call 'widespread disease' where we are seeing it in different counties.”

Alroy-Preis noted the two deaths reported in approximately the last week were of older people who died due to complications stemming for H3N2, also known as Influenza A, one of the three strains protected by the common flu vaccine. The other two covered by the flu shot are Influenza B and the H1N1 strain, commonly referred to as “swine flu” during the national outbreak in 2009 and 2010.

Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Dr. Sheila Pinette also reported a “school-aged child” died in the central part of Maine recently, making it the first pediatric death of this flu season in the state. Pinette pointed out the flu season came a little earlier this year, with cases of Influenza A showing up in October, and Influenza B in November.

“We do know it's throughout the state of Maine, in every county,” Pinette said. “…We are quite concerned about the fact that it's becoming widespread and it's earlier than we had in the past … The most important thing is that we be cognizant of the fact that it's out there and it requires that people practice good healthy (habits).”

Last year, Maine experienced 10 outbreaks, defined as events where many cases crop up in large facilities like schools, hospitals and long-term care centers. Pinette said so far this year, there have been 18 recorded outbreaks across the state.

In Somersworth, Superintendent Jeni Mosca confirmed the school district saw an outbreak of the flu earlier this month.

“It started out at our elementary (level) and moved through the middle and high school,” Mosca said, noting on Tuesday, “but we're back to normal in time for the holiday season.”

Pinette said it is especially important for people to get immunized as soon as possible before the holiday season, at a time when people visit family and friends.

“This holiday season … people are traveling a lot, embracing each other, and kissing each other, or traveling on planes in closed cabins, shopping in stores or traveling on buses and trains,” she said, “Make sure you're using good hand washing, covering your mouth when you cough and get immunized before you travel.”

Pinette noted the vaccine takes approximately two weeks to be fully into effect, and winter celebrations are the time when most people catch the flu.

“People pick up the flu, just through droplets in the air and touching door handles,” she said.

The New Hampshire CDC emphasizes the message: “It's not too late to vaccinate.”

Public Health Director Dr. Josť Montero issued in a news release that influenza strains change constantly so it is important to get immunized.

“If you won't get vaccinated for yourself,” Montero warned, “do it for the ones you love and take care of.”

Additionally, the Vaccines for Children program provides free vaccines for juveniles under the age of 18 in the state of New Hampshire. Doctors say people most susceptible to suffering extreme complication from the flu are aged above 65 or under 5 years.